The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved the use of the Moderna vaccine for children aged 12 to 17 years. It is the second COVID vaccine after Pfizer the Agency approved for adolescents. The Pfizer vaccine was approved in May.
According to the BBC, the European Medicine Agency said a study with the Moderna jab involving close to 4000 children aged 12 to 17 showed responses similar to those in young adults aged 18 to 25. The study found that none of the children who received the vaccine developed COVID-19.
However, the study could not assess the vaccine’s uncommon side effects such as heart inflammation among the children. Nevertheless, according to the BBC, the European Medicine Agency judges that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh any risks.
The Moderna vaccine requires two doses, each four weeks apart.
Meanwhile, the health ministry is administering the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 17 in the country. At the moment, the government has secured 5850 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the COVAX facility. Considering the higher risk of the Coronavirus in the southern areas, the health ministry began inoculating the adolescents in Samtse and Phuentshogling with the available doses.
Earlier this month, the government announced that 200,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine have been ordered which is expected to arrive in the country towards the end of the year.
According to the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, although most children do not get seriously ill from COVID-19 they are still at risk and can pass it on.
